Why Rare Earths Are China’s Trump Card in Trade War: QuickTake

Rare earths are among the most critical raw materials on the planet, deeply embedded in the technologies that underpin modern life. Yet few people have heard of them or know what they do.

With obscure names like gadolinium and dysprosium, rare earths are used across sectors — from semiconductors and iPhones to MRI machines and cancer treatments. More recently, demand has been propelled by the green tech that’s helping to cut carbon emissions.

The world has long been reliant on China for rare earths — something the country has used to its advantage in responding to the new trade war ...